Catalina 27 racing on San Francisco Bay.

Catalina Yachts is a U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from eight to 54 feet in length. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, California by Frank Butler .[1] Catalina Yachts is one of the largest boat manufacturers in the world, with over 80,000 boats manufactured to date.[2] Though Catalina produces boats from as small as eight feet under their Capri nameplate, the company is best known for its production of mid-sized cruisers.

History

In 1961, Catalina Yachts founder Frank Butler (January 17, 1928 - November 15, 2020) took over the production of his own boat when his original boat builder ran out of funds and borrowed money from Frank; unable to repay the debt, the builder instead gave Frank the tooling to continue building the boat.[3] Frank ended up taking control of the company, renaming it Wesco Marine and later Coronado Yachts.[4] Many early Coronado 25 boats have the Wesco Marine nameplate on the transom.

Among the first models built by Coronado were the Victory 21 and the Super Satellite. In 1964, the Coronado '25 was produced, becoming the first boat with a one piece interior, making the boat stronger, lighter, and less expensive than previous models. By 1969 the Coronado 27 and 30 foot models were being produced. In 1969, Frank sold Coronado to the Whittaker Corporation which had already acquired Columbia Yachts; Whittaker continued the Coronado line until 1974 producing the Coronado 34 with the center cockpit models 35 and 41.[3] Frank remained with Whitaker for only one year then left to begin Catalina Yachts.[5]

The first model built by Catalina Yachts was a 22-foot design previously rejected by Columbia. By 1977, Frank had designed and produced three more models: the Catalina 25, Catalina 27, and the Catalina 30. The Catalina 22 and the Catalina 30 were both inducted into the now-defunct Sail America American Sailboat Hall of Fame in 1995 and 2001 respectively.

In 1978 Catalina developed the Catalina 38 based on molds for a Sparkman & Stephens racing design purchased from the bankrupt Yankee Yacht Company. Frank redesigned the interior, he gave it a "Catalina deck", a taller mast, a shorter boom, and moved the rudder.

In 1984, Catalina acquired Morgan Yachts and introduced the Catalina Morgan 440 in 2004, now discontinued. The other Morgan models, including the Catalina designed M381 and M45 center cockpit, were recently retired as well.

Catalina Yachts today

The Catalina 310, won Cruising World Magazine's Pocket Cruiser Boat of the Year in 1999

Catalina Yachts has produced more than 80,000 boats manufactured to date.[2] Although Catalina produces boats as small as eight feet under the Capri nameplate, the company is known for its production of mid-sized cruisers, generally introducing a newly designed model nearly every year.

Catalina sailboats are manufactured out of its Largo, FL, factory. Although the Catalina brand was built upon sailboats, the recently acquired True North line of outboard motor yachts is the company focus today. After the passing of founder Frank Butler, his former secretary and longtime close personal friend, Sharon Day, was appointed president, chief engineer, head of marine design and CEO by the Butler family. Patric Turner, the company’s longtime national sales manager was appointed COO. He is now general manager and chief foreman of the Florida factory. He currently serves on the Sail America 2022 Board of Directors.

Cruising World "Boat of the Year" winners

Catalina Models

Model name Notes PHRF handicap
Catalina 14.2 Derived from Catalina's Omega 14; introduced in 1983, Mod 2 in 1990, Mod 3 in 1996[6]
Catalina EXPO 14.2
Catalina 16 Introduced in 1987 as the Capri 16 and produced until 2005
Catalina 16.5 Introduced in 1994 as the Capri 16.5[7]
Catalina Capri 18 Introduced in 1985 as Capri 18, name changed to Catalina 18 for 2000 model. Only Catalina cabin model with full positive flotation.
Catalina 22 The first and longest running model[3] 267(FK), 270(SK), 273(WK)
Catalina Capri 22 Introduced in 1984
Catalina 25 Introduced in 1978 222
Catalina 250 Successor to the 25, introduced in 1995 198
Catalina Capri 26 Introduced in 1990.
Catalina 27 Introduced in 1971. 204
Catalina 270 Introduced in 1992. 204
Catalina 275 Sport Introduced in 2013.
Catalina 28 Introduced in 1992, updated version MKII in 1995. 192
Catalina 30 Introduced in 1972, discontinued in 2008[3] 177
Catalina 309 Introduced in 2006 to replace the Catalina 30, shares hull with C310. Discontinued in 2012 when it was replaced by the Catalina 315
Catalina 310 Introduced in 1999. 300
Catalina 315 Introduced in 2012
Catalina 320 Introduced in 1993, 1,175 hulls, discontinued 2008. 156
Catalina 34 Introduced in 1986, 1,800 hulls, discontinued late 2008, available by special order 147
Catalina 350 Introduced in 2002, the 350 MKII was introduced in 2007 and was discontinued in 2009. Replaced by the 355. 132
Catalina 355 Introduced in 2011
Catalina 36 Introduced in 1982, 2305 hulls, final hull completed in Nov of 2006. Replaced by the 375. 141
Catalina 37 Limited production racing boat, specifically designed to replace the C38 in the Congressional Cup hosted by LBYC (LBYC.org) and the Long Beach Sailing Foundation (LBYCSF.org)
Catalina 375 Introduced in 2008 as a replacement for the Catalina 36. The C375 has a broader beam by 8 inches, it is 1.33 feet shorter in length (overall) and a has longer water line than the Catalina 387. It is heavier than the Catalina 36, but lighter than the Catalina 387. Discontinued in 2012. 84
Catalina 38 Introduced in 1977, modified from a Sparkman & Stephens race design [8] 117
Morgan 381 Introduced in 1993, the first Morgan design after Catalina bought Morgan 126
Catalina 380 Introduced in 1996, is a Morgan 381 modified to a rear cockpit - no similarity to the C38. An updated version MKII was released around 1999/2000. 120
Catalina 385 Introduced in 2012. The C385 replaced the C387 and is almost a foot shorter in overall length and 9 inches wider in the beam than the C387, but has a similar weight to the C36 and C375.
Catalina 387 introduced in Jan 2003 and stopped production in 2009 after 151 C387's were built. The 387 is a modified 380, which replaced the C380 and C390 boats. The 387 is a superior cruising and performance boat, but production was stopped in 2009 due to the down turn in the economy in 2008. The C387 was eventually replaced with the C385 which was smaller, lighter and cheaper to build, but was considered a new design. 120 Wing Keel, 111 Fin keel
Catalina 390 Introduced in 2001 and is identical to the C380, but the rear stateroom was divided into two small cabins (same hull, deck, & rig). 120
Catalina 400 Introduced in 1995. Discontinued in 2012. 102
Catalina 42 Introduced in 1989, more than 1,000 built; production discontinued in 2011. 102
Catalina 425 Introduced in 2016.
Catalina Morgan 440 Introduced in 2004, is a radical departure from previous Catalina designs.
Catalina 445 Introduced in 2009; the first of the 5 Series 105
Morgan 45 Introduced in 1991. Discontinued in 2004. 168
Catalina 470 Introduced in 1998. 90
Catalina 50 Introduced in 2001. Discontinued in 2004.
Catalina 545 Introduced 2019, delayed due to worldwide shortages

References

  1. ↑ "A Message from Frank Butler, President of Catalina Yachts". catalinayachts.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Join the Catalina family". ays.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mitchell, Steve (January–February 2001). "Catalina Yachts: One big family". Good Old Boat magazine: Volume 4, Number 1. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  4. ↑ "The History of the Victory Fleet". Mission Bay Yacht Club. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
  5. ↑ Spurr, Daniel (February 2004). Heart of Glass. McGraw-Hill. pp. 244–250. ISBN 978-0-07-143546-8.
  6. ↑ "Catalina (Capri) 14.2 Review". July 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ Browning, Randy (2017). "Catalina 16.5 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  8. ↑ "History". Catalina 38 Association. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.
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